Govt reports 6 additional deaths raising flood-related fatalities to 76 » Capital News
NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 27 — The number of flood-related deaths has soared to seventy-six after the government announced six additional deaths recorded within twelve hours lapsing Saturday.
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura announced the revised death toll in a news conference at Nyayo House, Nairobi.
Mwaura spoke even as authorities in Makueni reported three additional deaths following an incident on Friday when a lorry was swept away by floods raising the number of casualties from the incident to eight.
The lorry which was transporting sand was swept away by raging waters at River Kwa Muswii in Makueni as it attempted to cross the submerged bridge.
Earlier, Kenya Red Cross had revealed that it had rescued 11 people on board the lorry with rescue operations still underway.
“Four additional people have been rescued, bringing the total number of rescued to 11, promptly taken to Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital following the incident,” the agency stated.
Government Spokesperson said 24,196 households had been displaced by floods since the onset of rains with approximately 131,450 people affected.
He warned that heavy rains will continue across the country according to the Meteorological Department urging populations downstream the Seven Forks Dams to to move to higher ground.
“The ongoing rains have affected all the 47 counties and the impact of the floods has caused displacement of people and destruction of property ad infrastructure and tragic loss of lives,” he said.
Mwaura disclosed that Nairobi has borne the heaviest brunt of the ongoing rains with a death toll of 32 people and over 16,000 households displaced so far.
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